Hematocrit increase with recombinant erythropoietin (rEPO) has been associated with increased progression of renal insufficiency in experimental models of renal mass reduction. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of therapy with rEPO and various antihypertensives on the progression of chronic renal insufficiency and on arterial hypertension in an experimental model of renal mass reduction. Rats subjected to a two-thirds nephrectomy were randomly assigned to an untreated control group or to therapy with rEPO (subcutaneously, at an initial dose of 40 U/kg thrice weekly), rEPO plus verapamil (subcutaneously, 0.5 mg/kg/day), or rEPO plus enalapril (orally, 50 mg/l in the drinking water). Combining enalapril and rEPO therapy controlled systemic blood pressure (BP) and the increase in proteinuria. Glomerular injury, as assessed 16 weeks after renal ablation, was more marked in the animals treated with rEPO with or without either antihypertensive. The morphometric analyses showed greater glomerular tuft areas in the three groups receiving rEPO than in the controls. The glomerular tuft area was directly correlated with the rate of glomerulosclerosis. In about 11 % of the rEPO-treated hypertensive rats, the lesions showed severe hypertensive vasculopathy; in the animals treated with rEPO plus enalapril, the lesions were less severe. We conclude that therapy with rEPO was associated to renal damage which could not be attenuated by enalapril despite controlling BP and proteinuria, and may have a nonhemodynamic cause. Therapy with rEPO might trigger lesions usually associated with severe arterial hypertension; concomitant therapy with enalapril attenuates hypertensive vasculopathy.

Keywords:
Erythropoietin, Chronic renal failure, Arterial hypertension
This content is only available via PDF.
© 1996 S. Karger AG, Basel
1996
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.